[ 26i ] 



paler, and their growth far lefs advanced, than in an open 

 winter. (See Note 2) 



In accounting for the temperature of our winter air, perhaps 

 we fhould attribute fomething to the geographical polition of Ire- 

 Jand with refped to the Atlantic, and the comparative ratio of its 

 .altitude. From the Atlantic we have the v^^arming efFedts of tlie 

 ;-gulf-ftream more powerfully than they can have it in the northern 

 pfles of Britain, as it muft fufFer a decrement of heat before it 

 Can arrive at their coafts, which it reaches with a very weak velo- 

 city about Chriftmas. The lownefs of our lands, alfo, compared 

 with other countries, even in Europe, is very flriking. The hi[»heft 

 part of the^<r«frfl/furface of Ireland, which is only 270 feet above 

 the level of the fea, is about the center of the kingdom ; and our 

 loftieft mountain, M'Gillicuddy's Reeks, in the county of Kerry, 

 rifes but 3405 feet. Whereas, taking other countries in gradation, 

 J?aris is 365 feet over the fea ; Geneva, 1268 feet above the Me- 

 i .dfterranean j the Valley of Chamouni, 3367 feet over ditto; 

 -Snowdon, in Wales, 3555 feet over the fea; Benevjs, in Scotland, 

 '.(the higheft hill in Britain) 4370 feet; the inn on St. Golhard, in 

 the Alps, 8819 feet nearly ; Peak of Teneriffe, 121 85 feet; Mount 

 Blanc, (the higheft land in the old world) 15662 feet ; and that gi- 

 gantic mountain-mafs, Chiromboraco, in Peru, 20595 feet above 

 the fea. (See Note 3.) 

 Vol. VIII. K k From 



